Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Its something Ive always wondered, what is the most powerful cannon in 40k not including the novels or games or apocalypse or anything I mean just the regular 40k game. This gun has to be able to be used in a normal tabletop match.

It doesn't have to be a cannon can be a laser cannon, beam weapon or anything like that, im curious as to what is the most powerful propelled weapon in the game?

That would be the Necron doomsday weapon that can eleminate the entire system with one simple action.. then again this device is still unknown where it is.

In game? Maybe that new Melta Cannon on the Imperial Knight, or the Cannon on the Paladin with the 72" double large blast str 8 ap3?

The doomsday arc is s9 ap1 large blast at 72...

the colossus seige mortar is S8 AP3 Ignore cover with a huge range. It threatens all infantry bare rare ones in my opinion. Ignores cover is the big thing.

Well. The Tau Railgun is still Str 10, AP 1 72" range, but thats only against a single target.

Demolisher cannon.

S10 AP2 large blast.


Nothing else has the size and AP of that.

 welshhoppo wrote:
Demolisher cannon.

S10 AP2 large blast.


Nothing else has the size and AP of that.

Well the new Knight has a S9 AP 1 Large blast that is also a melta.

 welshhoppo wrote:
Demolisher cannon.

S10 AP2 large blast.


Nothing else has the size and AP of that.

I'm 99% sure that the Conversion Beamer Techmarines and Inquisitors get is exactly the same at a distance greater than 36'' or something to that effect but AP1 instead.

Im still rooting for colossus mortar, Ignors cover and most armour... plus range advantage.

 welshhoppo wrote:
Demolisher cannon.

S10 AP2 large blast.


Nothing else has the size and AP of that.

Doomsday beats it's AP by one and has one less str. (not saying doomsday is the best, i don't rightly know... and it depends if things are in the open or not, against how many targets etc)

Shock attack gun on good rolls, but it is also the worst on bad rolls.

 Swastakowey wrote:
Im still rooting for colossus mortar, Ignors cover and most armour... plus range advantage.

that ignoring cover is huge...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
the necron death ray is str 10 ap1, but only a beam,

Eldar Prism Cannon!

S: 9 AP: 1 Lance
S: 7 AP: 2 Blast
S: 5 AP: 3 Large Blast

All at 60" Best Non S: D weapon to wreck AV 14, as well as being able to effectively target every unit with an effective attack.

 Swastakowey wrote:
the colossus seige mortar is S8 AP3 Ignore cover with a huge range. It threatens all infantry bare rare ones in my opinion. Ignores cover is the big thing.

It's only S6.

The Medusa Siege Cannon is S10, Large Blast, AP2 Ordnance 1, 36" range or small blast AP1 Heavy 1, 48" range and 2D6 armour penetration. Doesn't get much better than S10, AP1.

Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:
the colossus seige mortar is S8 AP3 Ignore cover with a huge range. It threatens all infantry bare rare ones in my opinion. Ignores cover is the big thing.

It's only S6.

The Medusa Siege Cannon is S10, Large Blast, AP2 Ordnance 1, 36" range or small blast AP1 Heavy 1, 48" range.

Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

Ahhh I see, I dont use artillery often so sorry. I still think the ignores cover makes it more effective. S6 is great. But not the most powerful.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:


Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

Its not, but the best one is the 72" S8 AP3 Ordinance 2 Large blast on the knight variants

I think the question is to open ended... some will be better at shorter ranges, some at longer, some vs tanks, some vs various armors...

Brother Weasel wrote:
I think the question is to open ended... some will be better at shorter ranges, some at longer, some vs tanks, some vs various armors...

Indeed, now best melee weapon, thats an easy one

 WrentheFaceless wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:


Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

Its not, but the best one is the 72" S8 AP3 Ordinance 2 Large blast on the knight variants

I'd take one str 10 ap2 large blast over 2 str 8 ap3 ones against things like termis...

Brother Weasel wrote:

 WrentheFaceless wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:


Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

Its not, but the best one is the 72" S8 AP3 Ordinance 2 Large blast on the knight variants

I'd take one str 10 ap2 large blast over 2 str 8 ap3 ones against things like termis...

True but id take the two blasts over the one blast against anything with a meq save or worse

Depends on who you're shooting at. If you're killing Guardsmen behind an Aeigis Line, a Whirlwind will do better than a Demolisher cannon. If you're killing Land Raiders, that one Ork Psychic Power (S10AP2 Melta) will do better than a Battle Cannon. It all depends.

Shadowsword Volcano cannon. Nothing better than something that can kill vehicles on a 2+ outright.

Holy crap, TheCustomLime, look at our post times.

 WrentheFaceless wrote:

Brother Weasel wrote:

 WrentheFaceless wrote:

AllSeeingSkink wrote:

 Swastakowey wrote:


Doesn't get much better than that without Strength D, in which case you're looking at the Imperial Knight, but I'd be borderline calling that an Apoc/Escalation unit.

Its not, but the best one is the 72" S8 AP3 Ordinance 2 Large blast on the knight variants

I'd take one str 10 ap2 large blast over 2 str 8 ap3 ones against things like termis...

True but id take the two blasts over the one blast against anything with a meq save or worse

hence why it's an open question... best vs what

I think we can agree that it seems to be imperial cannons are the best cannons... based on the options people are presenting.

I still like my str9 ap1 large blasting doomsday

but the IG defiantly have big guns.

Double six shock attack gun 'nuff said.

What about the death strike? Dont know its stats of hand but isnt that up there in power?

Oh yeah, Death strike missile, dunno how I forgot about that one. Not the best, but definitely the most powerful. S10, AP1, D3+3" blast RADIUS, so that's at minimum 8" blast diameter up to a maximum of 12". So 3 to 7" bigger than a "large blast".

No cover saves, 960" max range, 12" min range.

Also it's Ordnance, so you roll 2D6 and pick the highest for penetration, with S10 AP2, it will glance/pen AP14 on anything but snake eyes.